"Ralph Reed has said repeatedly that he had no direct knowledge of who financed his consulting work against gambling in Alabama, Texas and elsewhere, and that he would never knowingly take money from gambling interests.

But the truth is not in him.

E-mails released last week by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee make it clear that Reed knew the millions of dollars coming his way were being paid by Indian tribes who wanted to shut down potential competition to their casinos. In one series of e-mails between Reed and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was running the operation from Washington, the men discuss how Reed will be compensated for his expenses.

The subject heading for that discussion? 'Disbursement on behalf of Choctaw Indians.'"